About the Music

The "Air on the G String" is the title used for Air from Johann Sebastian Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068. The title originally referred to an adaptation of Bach's piece for violin and piano arranged by August Wilhelmj. The original orchestral suite was written by Bach for his patron Prince Leopold of Anhalt sometime between the years 1717 and 1723.

The title comes from violinist Wilhelmj's late 19th century arrangement of the piece for violin and piano. By transposing the key of the piece from its original D major to C major and transposing the melody down an octave, Wilhelmj was able to play the piece on only one string of his violin, the G string.